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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Book Three, The Examples of Rome's Great Men, Sundry Remarks on Strategy, Tactics, New Devices and Discipline, Administrative Posts, Administrative Methods: The Rival Claims of Severity and Good Fellowship.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Machiavelli suggest wars should be quick with limited damage to the conquered City?
(a) So armies can be readied for the next war.
(b) So Citizens are not burdened by the demands of the war.
(c) So armies can be brought home to participate in a productive economy.
(d) To reduce the cost to the conquering Prince and preserve the resources of the conquered city as booty for the conquering forces.

2. Based upon Machiavelli's details, for whose benefit were the "demonstrations made to the benefit" of Plebes devoted?
(a) The Plebes who had very busy working lives.
(b) The benefit of Nobles and people in power.
(c) Magistrates who used public works as a means of keeping political support from the general masses.
(d) The benefit of the Kings who needed occupiers throughout the Empire.

3. What is a Prince as Machiavelli uses the term?
(a) A monarch over a sovereign system of government and territory.
(b) A dispatched bureaucrat that carries out orders over a territory.
(c) An underling to the ruling authority.
(d) A hereditary noble.

4. What does Machiavelli claim happens to great men in times of peace?
(a) They become tyrants.
(b) They become neglected.
(c) They become corrupted and evil.
(d) They retire and slip into obscurity.

5. According to Machiavelli, why did Livius believe the Roman Republic grew?
(a) Because of the virtue of its Captains.
(b) Because of the wisdom of its Magistrates.
(c) Because of the strength of its soldiers.
(d) Because of the money of its Nobles.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Machiavelli claim that the rule of the Caesars was preferable to the regime of the Decemvirs?

2. When does Machiavelli advise Captains to try new things?

3. What does Machiavelli consider to be necessary when restoring a Republic from a Tyranny?

4. What does Machiavelli identify as tactics the Citizen seeking not to be harmed uses?

5. What does Machiavelli announce as the purpose of Book Two of "The Discourses" in the preface?

(see the answer key)

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